Awaiting the pay cheque...

Decided I needed to write something whilst the boss is away from her desk and I'm up to date with my work.

Well I have a cold and sound like a munchkin, its delightful. Other than that though it's all plain sailing and happy days.

Work is coming along nicely, continuous good appraisals, me, giving my colleagues no choice but to take me along to their meeting with them (which they don't seem to mind and gives me opportunity to get to know them better) and finishing work at a blissful 5.30 every day. Just waiting for that first pay cheque now so I can have an income again. Saying that it will soon be gone on bills and savings - ah well, I'll get there.

Things at work are becoming more social - I'm going to my colleagues 30th birthday party over the weekend and intend to dress up "Flashdance" style, followed by the following weekend where I'm participating in a 10K run for charity with my colleagues (fortunately someone dropped out so I jumped right in!) and then we have a Charity quiz in November followed by the Christmas party at Thorpe Park - i know!! in December.

Crikey, when I list it - that's quite a lot! Next year I intend to turn my extra curricular work activities to internal projects with the business and gain more knowledge of every area possible.

I'm completely absorbed in my job, fascinated and excited by everything that goes on, its great. This must have been how people felt at my old company who liked insurance... ergh... and finance... ergh... heehee :o)

I'm determined to prove myself, to rise above my position when I get confirmed in March then Mada and I can start to concentrate on buying our house and seeing a mortgage advisor.

If I get promoted to a Sales Executive I'll automatically get a company car. And as much as I don't want to sell my precious mini, I could save myself £250 a month without the cost of the car loan and insurance and that's a massive amount that could go towards our monthly mortgage.

I'm so determined to succeed it's unreal. I have never felt this way about any job, even when I was working to the bone at WR there was never passion just a MUST attitude.

Well if I am going to succeed, I guess I should get back to the job at hand. Thank GOD i waited those 4 long months - it was so worth it.

I failed myself.

Oh crap.

So, I had the interview at the school yesterday. It was with the assistant head and a random woman (governing body?).

It went really well and I felt really confident over all the answers i gave over their strictly regimented questioning.

I got a call in the afternoon saying that they had good new and bad news. First of all they gave me the feedback and said that my interview was (and i quote here) "superb" and that I came across lovely, confident, my answers were well thought through bla bla BLAAAAAAAAA but then, that they were not going to offer me the position as they had two women that could co-share the position who had been TA's before - Waaaah :(

On the up though, they have told me that if i would like to pursue my GTP then they are happy to sponsor me for work experience with them, which was a very generous offer which I was appreciative of.

Can't say I'm not disappointed, but now of course, everything hangs in the balance with the other job now. Which I doubt I'll hear further on until NEXT week. So I guess I have to start looking again, it's so tiresome.

What is meant to be, will be.

Dream Job Dillema

Hhhm.

So, i got the interview for the Learning Support Assistant (TA) job, it's this coming Wednesday. Which is great. But, I have this niggling feeling now of whether or not i really want to throw myself into this whole new career.

I have applied for another job, and it is, the DREAM job.

In a nutshell, the title is Programme Coordinator and its for a charity/ company who organise experiences for young adults (age 17-25) to travel abroad and teach. Their head office is in Reading but they have sub offices in Australia and NZ.

The job would involve managing the programmes, the people on them, prepping the young adults and their families on what to expect, keeping in contact with them whilst they're out in the field, relaying with embassies - the works. It's like, the perfect job.

I get to deal with all the things I have done and would love for other people to experience and i get to organise it all for them and share their experience, whilst getting to stay put here - but with the possibility of short trips to the sites and sub offices - fantastic! The best of both!

The job requires someone who has a degree, managerial experience and travelled/ lived abroad - all of which i have done. I am just praying that my testimony in the app will get me through. I sent the ap today and tomorrow is the closing date.

If I could just simply get the interview for next week and then find out at the same time if either will make an offer, life would be brilliant. I really want this job, I mean, the teaching would be great and I'm comfortable with taking that career path but this, this would just be simply awesome.

Please God, help me succeed. Work has been so hard to so long, I'd love to have this opportunity to be able to know, feel and say "i love my job".

Fingers and toes crossed :)

Also

On another note, I need to get a job.

An appointment with the Headmaster...

I had my appointment with the Head of the School this morning, which subsequently turned into an offer of applying for the School's Teacher Assistant position, starting this September - :):):)

Harris explained to me that an advert (a one liner) has gone into the local newspaper but as he already had me in mind he will send me the application forms directly (inadvertently implied that I will be given priority on the position).

Should i get the job I will literally be working about 25 hours a week (in at 9 and out by 3.15) everyday with no "after school" additional work, which means that although I will be taking an astronomical pay cut, I will be in a position to take on a second job to keep some form of income coming in and to pay my parents rent.

He also explained that as a TA for the School they will then be able to sponsor me to undertake the PGCE which, in Layman's terms means that I will not have to pay any tuition fees whilst studying for the year (at either Reading or Guildford) AND possibly they financially support me?? I'll need to look into it.

What a positive start to the week. I can't believe I've been back 10 days and things are going so well, so far. I'm so happy. I pray to God that I will be given this opportunity and start a new career in something I am truly passionate about.

One small step for Bubs... one giant leap for my self esteem :)

Chilly Calls

Have decided to "Cold Call" two travel companies that I'm interested in working for until i sort out this teaching business...

STA Travel - Advised them that I had been on line and rather than submitting an application through their site, could i pop in my CV directly and have an informal chat.

Response: Currently no vacancies, best to just submit on line. Meh.

Real Gap - Followed up on my CV i sent them last month

Response: Really friendly but said there were no positions available at the moment. Advised to maybe re-send cv??

GREAT START!!!

Take it & Go!

WHAT an exhausting day!

It all started by me 'missing' my TWO alarm clocks and waking up too late to meet a friend for breakfast and for my dentist appointment to have my braces REMOVED - can you believe it???

Eventually I made it to the dentist and had the braces taken off, retainer fitted and teeth whitened. I have to say after all the build up over coming months I was neither here nor there about it at the time. My teeth don't look extraordinarily different to how they did before, but upon smiling in the mirror (pretty much all afternoon) and looking through the photo album that the practice put together for me I really do see all the technicalities and changes.

Overall everything looks tighter, neater and brighter - it looks good. I'm happy. I'm pretty certain it was money well spent, although I am in a little discomfort this evening - everything feels a little sensitive and soar. Hopefully that will ease in a few days. If it doesn't then it's probably just because the dentist has totally fucked up my teeth with the rush of it all and they will all fall out and I'll have dentures put in - great!!

This afternoon/ evening I have desperately tried to pack as the removal dudes arrive at 930 AM (I will set 2 alarms, plus bombies is going to give me a wake up call if she remembers - please remember!! haha.)

Bombies and Jude dropped by as i had a shed load of stuff to give them, Bombies helped me throw out 3 bags of "products" from my bathroom in about 5 minutes and then we went for dinner. Once I got back, Kiwi came over and helped out a bit. Took photos of me in my state of "panic" and I played dress up with him (making him wear my jewelry etc). He gave me a bit of light relief so it was good of them all to pop by.

Now it's 02.00am and Kiwi just made a check up call on me. I'm totally spent and sleepy. So I'm gonna do the following in the morning:

- decide which shoes to pack/ ship
- Pack MAC - bye bye computer :(
- put one box aside for "last minute" bits
- Write my insurance itinerary (God help me)

Hopefully all will go smoothly and whatever gets left behind will just have to be chucked!!

Right, time to sleep. I will finish off blogging about my braces etc next week once I'm back in the UK, don't get me wrong, I'm REALLY enthusiastic about it - I'm just really really tired!!!

night night, sleep tight.

Busy Bee

I am busy. So busy. Annoying things here and there that need sorting but nothing of any substance or real urgency - hence, no motivation.

Arrived back from Beijing yesterday afternoon - it was amazing. Namely the best bits were...

- Mooching down Wangfujin all morning, browsing through chopsticks & silk, talking to birds that spoke Mandarin, practicing camwhoring at the world.
- All the famous sights; Tiananmen Sq, Forbidden City, Great wall
- Learning how to cook dumplings in a traditional Hutong
- Watching line dancing out on the street, water calligraphy, Hui hi by night.
- Having my own Cheongsam made
- Checking out the olympic stadium and surrounding area
- Hanging out at the 798 Art Space (was too cool)
- Partying until daylight and then going for 24 hour dim sum (who could ask for more in life - i mean, really)
- Trying Peking Duck and all sorts of random shit
- Everything else in between - being mobbed, getting lost down random old streets, making silly videos, laughing a lot, catching up with old friends, watching 10 year old girls perform chinese acrobats in a club, dancing with a Russian band (don't ask)....
- The list goes on

All in all Beijing = Amazing. H and I had a fantastic time.

So today was my first of 4 days remaining in the office, after lunch my team surprised me with an array of Malaysian dishes - very sweet. I wonder what else they have in store for me this week...



After managing to escape the office by 7 i managed a 5K sprint (yes, sprint @ 12km per hour for 25 mins) and some abs work. Gossiped with the PT's at the gym for a while, headed home.

Finally i look around my disgusting apartment (see below) and attempted to clean up. I managed about half. I still need to read over 17 CV's for a new position in our office and choose 3 to interview and make appointments/ see them by Friday. Plus all the other work that is never ending. Have told myself I can only do what I can do.

Last night managed to swing by Mid Valley and pick up a new backpack, cost an arm and half a leg (not a whole leg as i (unusually) didn't go for the most expensive brand). Am starting to think about packing (which is a start).

Have meal with friends tomorrow, weight training with my gym buddy who is back in town until the weekend on Thursday and then Friday will be my "leaving" party @ Zouk. Hope it'll be a good one.

In between all this I'm trying to clean out my apartment, review my job situation, get my arse in gear with the teaching programme, order flowers for a friend who's other friend just passed away :(, clean clothes, see ALL my friends (there aren't many but they are significant nonetheless), finish up my work, insure all my apartment prior to the move... argh the list goes on and on.

OK so that's a brief update. I'll try and blog about something vaguely interesting before i go to vietnam and die due to swine flu/ crossing roads/ eating live bugs/ Kiwi boy's droning voice :P

Laters.

Vietnameasily Handled

I had my first taste of Vietnam this morning. Well, the Embassy that is. I walked down to Jalan Stonor (and sweated just a bit) to submit my Visa ap.

When I arrived there were a lot of people who just seemed to be "hanging about" outside and so i just "hung" with them. Then a Vietnamese guy grunted at me and made a head nod towards a closed door which said "Visas" on it.

I smiled and walked towards it and slowly opened the door and peeked my head through the gap, it was like going into somebody's house, not an Embassy! No guards, nothing!

The room was packed with travellers of every nationality, most in baggy "fisherman pants" and me looking very out of place with my business attire. It was all so laid back and carefree, I struggled to communicate that I wanted to complete the form at the small little wooden rickety "desk".

I paid the cash (which cost more than my return flight!) and they returned my passport, apparently they don't need it(??) which was annoying as I paid a bit extra to have it processed "express" (2 days) instead of regular (5 working days) just in case i couldn't get my passport back in time for China - how annoying! But looking at the woman on the desk, I knew trying to go back in time and reverse my decision would be pretty much impossible.

And that was that, done and dusted in a few minutes.

I really marvel at Embassies and no matter how efficient (china) or inefficient (Vietnam) they are, the process of tourist visa applications seems so straight forward!

Bring on Vietnam! :)

Yes Miss

KiwiBoy is asleep on my sofa snoring softly and I don't wanna wake him, the guy needs serious quality sleep... let him doze even though it's 1pm. Using the opportunity and forced quiet time to read about Graduate Teacher Programs (GTP) on line.

Although I'm not 100% sure this is the right (do we ever really know what is right though?) career move, it seems to be the most sensible choice... reasoning listed below...

- I like kids
- I like teaching and have experience in it
- I can get paid at the same time as studying
- Pay is OK (about 15K whilst still in training)
- The qualification can be used world-wide (thinking ahead, in case I decide I wanna move back out to Asia)
- 2.1 Million people have been made unemployed in the UK which doesn't bode well career wise (but teaching posts are ALWAYS ready and waiting).
- Encourages me to take my trip to Africa in the interim period over the summer as the course/ work will not commence until September
- Good working hours and LONG holidays (can come back to Malaysia and be a bum for 6 weeks a yr) :P

After mulling over it for several weeks it really does seem like the most logical choice, I think I'll enjoy it and the skills that I gain from it can be used anywhere in the world which is the real main advantage. And hey, if it's not for me it's only another year gone by, with another experience tried out for size. It won't be a year wasted.

Anyway I have applied on line to have the first lot of info to be sent to me... although I'm unsure if it's too late for me to get my position up and running for the 2009-10 year, fingers crossed I can. Then again, as I always believe. if it's meant to be, it will happen.

Passport to Life

I have to say, I'm extremely impressed with the people's republic of China... i/e the China embassy, Malaysia. I'm not one for paper work and documents etc but getting my Visa for China really was very simple - or perhaps it's just me that usually over complicates matters?

A friend sent me the link to download the China Visa form. I completed it, attached a photo, took it to the embassy, queued up was in and out in no more than 15 mins (I went at about 10.30 so it was starting to get busy) on the Thursday and was told to come and collect it on the Tuesday. I headed down this morning at 9.15, paid myr 130 and within 5 minutes was out again with my passport, complete with Visa.

I think when it comes to these things it more the dread of getting round to doing it rather than the actual doing itself. It's like when I had to get a new passport. Yes, that was extremely annoying as I had to apply through the British Embassy here in Malaysia, it was massively expensive (£100+!!) and then I had to send it off to Labuan for my new employment visa. In hindsight I really only had to take 2 trips down to the Embassy, both times there was no one else waiting and I was served immediately.

I guess it's more the to and fro ing that's the most annoying. I must keep that in mind though, one of my really bad attributes is that I put off doing something because the thought of it makes me think "mah" but actually when it comes around to it, it's never really as bad as I think. And rather than sitting on something, putting it off and off, you may as well just get it done because all that feeling of 'dread' inside you isn't really healthy and only stresses you out for no major reason. Is this a longwinded way of implying that I am lazy? Maybe.

Next week I'll need to get my Vietnam Visa (once Kiwi gets his arse in gear and confirms the flights etc with me) and then that's it, I'm done. All trips booked and all visa's collected! I'm so excited for the coming two months, so much fun to be had (although a little concerned about money, I should be OK). Beijing is now looking more and more exciting as my friend up there has sent me info on Chinese cooking classes and tours :) How fun? We will actually get to go to a traditional market and handpick all the ingredients ourselves. It's gonna be fantastic.

As for this weekend, I am off to Penang to visit DanDan. If PhotoBoy can get us tickets then we will also go to the Hennessy event, which should be awesome. But mostly I'm looking forward to seeing the city and trying all the local food. Unfortunately Kuching has been taken off the cards. I can't say I'm not disappointed but well, you can't do everything. I'm just thankful that I agreed to go to Langkawi, at least I will get to have one holiday with Bombie and friends. That means that the long weekend I have booked off in KL, can be spent getting a hair cut (hate my fringe, wanna get rid of it again - lol), going for a mani and pedi (resorted to cutting and filing my own nails last night - very distressing) eating Durian (it's been WAY too long), going clubbing (Mambo Jumbo on the Wed night and then maybe Zouk/ MOS over the weekend), sunbathing/ relaxing and oh, job hunting.

As for HK, which seems so far away right now I was wondering too if I really wanted to spend my birthday there but yes I do, I want to spend it with H. On my actually Birthday (the day after the birthday junk) we are going to take an early morning hike up to the Peek (I've never hiked it before so that's gonna be totally cool) and have a "Birthday Brunch" at a restaurant up top. Hopefully Hong Kong Dim Sum would be great. It will be really awesome to have a photo up there too. You know why? Because I went there on one of my first days in Hong Kong and now, will be taking another, over 3 years on, just a few days before I leave, for good.

I'm also really excited about moving back to the UK, of course I still haven't made headway with what I'm doing. Some won't believe this but I've actually looked at taking my teacher training course... maybe it wouldn't be SUCH a bad idea... the only problem I have got so far is that you need A-C in English, Maths and Science at GCSE level. I have a B in English Lit & Lang, a C in Maths (would you believe it? And yes, I had private after-school tuition!) but in Science I got a D :( So I'm not sure where this leaves me. The news says that the UK is "crying out" for teachers, so maybe given that I will be a "mature" student, they will make an exception?? We'll see, I have a family friend who is headmaster at a local school, I think I'll contact him and ask. It's just another idea... so we'll see.

Gosh this was supposed to be me just blogging about how impressed I am about Visa applications and Embassy adventures. Oh well, I guess it's nothing out of the ordinary for me to ramble on, about myself. Have a nice day people :)

Chillin me boots

Ah! I love that I have decided to start blogging again, i missed you! I just wanna blog blog blog all day.

It's Friday night and I'm having a relaxing start to the weekend - no real plans. Which is actually just what I fancy for a change. You must think I'm crazy, I'm leaving this country in like, a matter of weeks and yet I'm chilling on my sofa at home, watching trashy TV and browsing through magazines. I love my me time, I hate being alone, but i live for my 'me' time.

Today started out great, I called H at 8 am on my way to work as we hadn't had a skype 'date' in yonkers and he is going away for a couple of weeks. Just speaking to him and hearing his enthusiastic voice all over the phone put a massive smile on my face and set me up for the day. Best friends, no matter what country they live in, rock my world.

I breezed through the morning at work and at lunch went for another dreaded dentist appointment - when will it end? Soon evidently. My little dental genius told me (in layman's terms) that if i stopped fucking about with my elastics and got on and wore them, then the braces just might be off by the time i leave - big cheesey smile! Then, he proceeded to put four brackets on my four teeth at the back that have been brace free for 8 months. Mother fucker, my cheeks are as hot as a bitch on heat and the inside of my mouth feels like its been shredded by a cheese grater. You get the gist. It better be fucking worth it that's all I'm saying!

I worked til 7.30 because I wanted to - how insane. I went food shopping, the usual - 3 cartons of milk, a bottle of orange juice (no added sugar), a loaf of wholemeal bread,half a dozen yacult, 24 pack of wheetabix, 2 potatoes, block of cheese, a bundle of fruit and veg and a six pack of diet coke. LOL. I can actually do my food shopping in 10 mins flat. By 9 i was lying on my sofa with an ice pack on my face.


I met with uh oh, need a name, need a name.... i met with Kiwi - haha so predictable, last night to discuss our Vietnam trip. He's having a shite old time with love and life and we talked more about that than the trip but to be honest, I didn't mind - 1 because i genuinely cared and secondly it was a nice change to hang out with someone different. Vietnam sounds like it's gonna be awesome, we're gonna rough it, train it and be breezy. It's been a while since i let go, i'm looking forward to spending a week with a mate who i barely know, who i find relatively :P entertaining and is happy to go through the motions with me.

I feel very content, its all very weird this "breezyness" that is taking over me. But, as it always is with me, its a controlled breezyness. Now, I've nearly sorted out my schedule up until I move to the UK the next step is finding the job. I must, must, MUST motivate myself to at least do SOMETHING productive this weekend and next. After that, things are gonna pick up. But secretly I kinda love this limbo time, life has been one big fat race for so long, I'm enjoying just living in the moment but I guess i do have to be moderately realistic and start planning now.... I'm sure i said this in my blog about two months ago. And yes Bombie, I know you're reading this with a smirk on your face and an eyebrow raised - II'll get there OK, I'm boardering on arriving now! haha. Tomorrow. Tomorrow.

Think I'm gonna get some shut eye so i can get up early and um, OK, OK, I'll job hunt. Dam you conscience. I'm naming you Jiminey Cricket (JC) from now on. You're so green, and spritely, and positive and upbeat... I guess i can do that too... if i simply HAVE too :P

Good night and God bless.

The New Chapter Has Arrived

Boo! Scared ya hu? :)

Time to start blogging again. Finally had a few weeks to get my head straight and things are progressing well. I leave my job in less than two months and have so much planned in the up coming weeks its untrue!

- Went to Perth the weekend before last to visit Shrek and have time out, it was just what I needed.
- Last weekend took a day trip to Cherating with "The Crew" was a blast. Got burnt.
- Have organized an un-pink party for my friends to help paint my apartment back white in two weeks time. So far the girls are game and no reply from the boys. I don't understand why - slave labour but yet they get free pizza and beer - what more could you ask for?
- Trying to squeeze in a trip to either Kuching or Penang here. Funds are being drained drastically and the clock is ticking.
- Langkawi weekend trip booked up with the same crew. One particular person I would like to join is not. Am working on this.
- 15k Pacesetters run the weekend after - just for fun. You know how it is.
- Trip to Bejing the week after to see some crumbling old wall.
- Finish work waho the week after
- Off to Vietnam to rough it up with a mate, hopefully popping by Laos and Chang Mai if we have time
- Over to HK to celebrate my Birthday for the weekend
- Flying home sweet home on the 18th June (not yet booked yet, will do it Thursday)

And that my friends is why it was worth working my arse off for 3 and a half years. Wouldn't you agree?

Now all I need to do is find myself one of those job-thingy-magigs everyone talks about. Hhhhmmm. So how?